A second chance: Set up in December last year, the country’s first AADK school in Puspen Karangan, Kedah, aims to address learning loss among those undergoing rehabilitation and treatment for drug abuse.
Instead of punishing students caught vaping, the Education Ministry should focus on supportive interventions.
Monash University Malaysia Assoc Prof Dr Anne Yee said punitive measures such as suspending or expelling students (see infographic) do not address nicotine dependence, which is the problem.
Nicotine addiction is a medical issue, not just a disciplinary problem, said the consultant psychiatrist and addiction specialist.
“Many students who vape are addicted to nicotine. They need support to overcome the addiction.
Dr Yee“Punishing does not address the biological and psychological aspects of nicotine dependence,” Dr Yee, who is also a Universiti Malaya Centre of Addiction Sciences (UMCAS) adjunct professor and Addiction Medicine Association of Malaysia (AMAM) honorary secretary said, adding that the prevalence of vape use among Malaysian adolescents is on the rise.
The National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2022 reported that e-cigarette use among Malaysians aged 13 to 17 rose from 9.8% in 2017 to 14.9% in 2022.
Notably, 23.3% of male adolescents and 6.2% of female adolescents were current e-cigarette users in 2022.
Adults only: It is illegal to sell vape products to anyone under the age of 18. — File photo
“Almost half (48.5%) of adolescent e-cigarette users initiated use before the age of 14, indicating early exposure to nicotine.
“So, instead of suspending or expelling a student, it is more important to provide them with the tools to quit.
“Educational interventions such as nicotine cessation programmes and counselling have been shown to be more effective in reducing long-term use,” said Dr Yee.
Besides denying a student’s access to education, punitive measures, she said, can lead to negative academic outcomes as it disrupts learning and could lead to a rise in students dropping out of school if they are unable to reintegrate.
“This is especially damaging to those from B40 backgrounds.
“These students often feel stigmatised, isolated and unmotivated to continue learning and to complete their education.
“Such measures worsen existing behavioural problems, which also lead to a higher risk of future substance use and delinquent behaviour as they may spend more time in unsupervised settings,” Dr Yee said, adding that association with other high-risk peers outside of school can reinforce substance use behaviours rather than deter them.
Punitive actions, she warned, could have mental health consequences such as increased anxiety, stress and depression.
“Students may have started vaping as a coping mechanism but punitive actions may worsen the underlying mental health issues that led to their use in the first place,” she said.
Students who fear punishment, said Dr Yee, may hide their vaping habits, adding that harsh disciplinary measures may create adversarial relationships between students and school authorities, making students less likely to respect school rules.
A more rehabilitative approach fosters cooperation rather than conflict, she opined.
